Identifying Wood: Accurate Results with Simple Tools

by R. Bruce Hoadley

With just the naked eye and a hand lens or elementary microscopy, you will be able to identify over 180 domestic and tropical hardwoods and softwoods by following the straightforward techniques in this book.

Bruce Hoadley , a professor of wood science and technology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, provides:

Genres: Woodwork, Science, Reference, Nature, Nonfiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

R. Bruce Hoadley was Professor Emeritus of Building and Construction Materials in the Department of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Reviews

[Eli Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yup. It's wood. A great introduction. Highly recommend.

[Bob Shadel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really helpful book for identifying woods. Sometimes to identify already installed stained wood is difficult but working with this book the wood is pretty obvious. I have updated from his lenses recommendations with a new LED USB microscope for only about $50. Comparing photos on the computer is really nice.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever look at a piece of wood and wonder if it's wood? Now I feel confident that I can pick up a piece of wood and say "Yup, it's wood."

[Andreas Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me a while but, yes, definitely it's wood.

[Koen Crolla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly a very good overview of the work involved in identifying woods (including, briefly, doing so from charcoal or paper fibres); as a guide to actually identifying wood, it's just pretty good, and it will be most helpful by far to someone in North America. Some of the most common European species are covered, but the tropical hardwoods are limited to those widely available in the US.

It is frustrating to see him use a razor blade for things for which a well-adjusted plane would be much faster and more consistent.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite as readable as his "Understanding Wood" but a good read. It covers wood microscopy in detail, as well as other methods of identifying wood from timber & finished goods. A must read, if you're into this kind of thing.

[Erika Mulvenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learn several different methods to identifying woods - helpful for restorations of historic buildings.

[James Lemezis · Rating 5 out of 5]

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